WFEDD staff to deliver annual SEDS progress report to EDA; committee surveys members on 2025 priorities

Marsha White said the Wasatch Front Economic Development District (WFEDD) will produce an annual report on its Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS/SEDS) to meet Economic Development Administration reporting requirements and to show progress on strategy tasks.

"You will be getting something in April," Marsha White said, noting the EDA's required annual report timeline and that the draft would be shared with committee members prior to submittal. White said the region's strategy contains four key strategies, 13 strategy recommendations and 43 individual tasks with varied timelines and priorities.

White told the committee she has engaged consultant Better Cities to help build a dynamic dashboard and visual summaries for the report. She said some federal data series the region previously tracked are no longer available and that staff are identifying alternative indicators.

During the meeting White led a Slido survey asking members about meeting format preferences (in-person, virtual, hybrid), topics they want covered, interest in site visits or field trips, and preferred communications channels for funding and opportunity notices. Members suggested topics including infrastructure (power and water), downtown placemaking and best practices for request-for-information (RFI) submissions; a committee member recommended inviting Gilmore Bell and representatives involved with recent PID legislation amendments to brief the group.

White said staff will circulate survey results and follow-up with contacts mentioned during the meeting. She invited members to send additional speaker suggestions and said the survey results will inform planning for meetings over the next 12–18 months.